Electric Light Orchestra
Encyclopedia
Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) were a British rock
group from Birmingham
who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood
and Jeff Lynne
's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones. After Wood's departure following the band's debut record, Lynne wrote and arranged all of the group's original compositions and produced every album.
Despite early singles success in the United Kingdom, the band were initially more successful in the United States, billed as "The English guys with the big fiddles". They soon gained a cult following despite lukewarm reviews back in their native United Kingdom. By the mid-1970s, they had become one of the biggest-selling bands in music. From 1972 to 1986, ELO accumulated 27 Top-40 hit singles in both the UK and the US. The group also scored 20 Top 20 UK hit singles, as well as 19 Top-20 hit singles in the US (as charted by Billboard Magazine
). The band also holds the record for having the most Billboard Hot 100, Top 40 hits of any band in US chart history without ever having a number one single.
ELO collected 19 CRIA
, 21 RIAA
and 38 BPI
awards,, and sold over 50 million records worldwide during the group's active period of recording and touring.
—had an idea to form a new band that would use violins, cellos, string basses, horns and woodwinds to give their music a classical sound, taking rock music in the direction "that The Beatles
had left off." Jeff Lynne
, frontman of fellow Birmingham group The Idle Race, was excited by the concept. In January 1970, when Carl Wayne
left The Move, Lynne accepted Wood's second invitation to join the band on the condition that they focus their energy on the new project.
On 12 July 1970, when Wood added multiple cellos to a Lynne-penned song intended to be a Move B-side, the new concept became a reality and "10538 Overture
" became the first Electric Light Orchestra song. To help finance the fledgling band, two more Move albums were released during the lengthy ELO recordings. The resulting debut album The Electric Light Orchestra
was released in 1971. (It was released in the United States in 1972 as No Answer, the name being chosen because a record company secretary had tried to ring the UK company and get the name of the album – since they were unable to contact them they left a note saying "No Answer".) "10538 Overture" became a UK top-ten hit. Lynne, Wood, and Bev Bevan
were the founding members of Electric Light Orchestra. They were joined by Bill Hunt (horns, keyboards) and Steve Woolam (violin) on the debut album.
ELO's debut concert took place on 15 April 1972 at The Fox & Hounds Pub in Croydon
, U.K. with a line-up of Wood, Lynne, Bevan, Bill Hunt (horns, keyboards), Wilfred Gibson
(violin), Hugh McDowell
(cello), Mike Edwards
, Andy Craig (cello) and Richard Tandy
on bass.
However, tensions soon surfaced between Wood and Lynne due to problems with management. During the recordings for the band's second LP, Wood left the band taking cellist McDowell and horn player Hunt with him to form Wizzard
. Despite predictions from the music press that the band would fold without Wood, who had been the driving force behind the creation of ELO, Lynne stepped up to lead the band, with Bev Bevan
remaining on drums, joined by Gibson, Richard Tandy (now on the Moog synthesiser), Mike de Albuquerque on bass and vocals and Mike Edwards
and Colin Walker on cellos.
The new line-up performed at the 1972 Reading Festival. Barcus Berry pick-ups
, now sported by the band's string trio, allowed them to have proper amplification on stage for their instruments, which had previously been all but drowned out by all the sound of the other electrified instruments. The band released their second album, ELO 2 in 1973, which produced their first US chart single, a hugely elaborate version of the Chuck Berry
classic "Roll Over Beethoven
". ELO also made their first appearance on American Bandstand
.
During the recording of the third album, Gibson was let go after a dispute over money and Walker left since touring was keeping him away from his family too much. Mik Kaminski
joined as violinist, while remaining cellist Edwards finished the cello parts before McDowell returned to ELO from Wizzard. The resulting album, On the Third Day
, was released in late 1973, with the American version featuring the popular single "Showdown
."
, a concept album about a daydreamer, Lynne was finally able to stop overdubbing strings, and hire a proper orchestra and choir. Louis Clark
joined the band as string arranger. The first single of the album, "Can't Get It Out of My Head
", became their first US Billboard charts
Top 10 hit, and Eldorado, A Symphony became ELO's first gold album
.
After the release of Eldorado, bassist and vocalist Kelly Groucutt
and cellist Melvyn Gale
joined, replacing de Albuquerque (who, like Walker before him, quit since the ELO tours were keeping him away from his family too long) and Edwards respectively. The line-up stabilised as the band took to a decidedly more accessible sound. ELO had become successful in the United States at this point and the group was a star attraction on the stadium and arena circuit, as well as regularly appearing on The Midnight Special
(1973, 1975, 1976 & 1977) more than any other band in that show's history with four appearances.
Face the Music was released in 1975, producing the hit singles "Evil Woman
" and "Strange Magic
". The opening instrumental "Fire On High
", with its mix of strings and blazing acoustic guitars, saw heavy exposure as background music on CBS Sports Spectacular
montages, though most viewers had no idea of the song's origins. The group toured extensively from 3 February till 13 April 1976 promoting the album in the US, playing 68 shows in 76 days (see Face the Music). It was on the American tour that ELO first debuted their use of coloured lasers.
Despite the recognition and success they enjoyed in the states they were still largely ignored in the United Kingdom until their sixth album, The platinum selling A New World Record
, hit the top ten there in 1976. It contained the hit singles "Livin' Thing
", "Telephone Line
", "Rockaria!
" and "Do Ya", a rerecording of a Move song. The band toured in support in the US only from October 1976 to April 1977 with a break in December, then an American Music Award
show appearance on 31 January 1977, plus a one-off gig in San Diego in August 1977
A New World Record was followed by a multi-platinum selling album, the double-LP
Out of the Blue
, in 1977. Out of the Blue featured the singles "Turn to Stone
", "Sweet Talkin' Woman
", "Mr. Blue Sky
", and "Wild West Hero
", each becoming a hit in the United Kingdom. The band then set out on a nine-month, 92-date world tour, with an enormous set and a hugely expensive space ship stage with fog machine
s and a laser
display. In the United States the concerts were billed as The Big Night and were their largest to date, with 80,000 people seeing them at Cleveland Stadium
. The Big Night went on to become the highest-grossing live concert tour in music history up to that point (1978). The band also played at the Wembley Arena
for eight straight sold-out nights during the tour as well, another record at that time. The first of these shows was recorded and televised, and later released as a CD
and DVD.
In 1979, the multi-platinum album
Discovery
(or "Disco? Very!", as fans refer to it), was released. Although the biggest hit on the album (and ELO's biggest hit overall) was the rock song "Don't Bring Me Down", the album was noted for its heavy disco
influence. Discovery also produced the hits "Shine a Little Love
", "Last Train to London
", "Confusion
" and "The Diary of Horace Wimp". The band recorded videos for all the songs on the album.
The Electric Light Orchestra finished 1979 as the biggest selling act in the United Kingdom. ELO had reached the peak of their stardom, selling millions of albums and singles and even inspiring a parody
/tribute
song on the Randy Newman
album Born Again.
In 1980 Jeff Lynne was asked to write for the soundtrack of the musical film Xanadu
, with the other half written by John Farrar
and performed by the film's star Olivia Newton-John
. The movie performed poorly at the box office, but the soundtrack did exceptionally well, eventually going double platinum
. The album spawned hit singles from both Newton-John ("Magic," No. 1 in the United States, and "Suddenly" with Cliff Richard
) and ELO ("I'm Alive
", which went gold, "All Over the World
" and "Don't Walk Away
"). The title track, performed by both Newton-John and ELO, is ELO's only song to top the singles chart in the United Kingdom. Xanadu was turned into a surprising hit Broadway Musical that opened on 10 July 2007 at the Helen Hayes Theatre to uniformly good reviews and received 4 Tony Award
nominations. The Electric Light Orchestra Story, Bev Bevan's memoirs from his early days and throughout his career with The Move and ELO, were also published in 1980.
In 1981 ELO's sound changed again with the science fiction concept album
Time
, a throwback to earlier, more progressive rock
albums like Eldorado. With the string section laid off, synthesisers took a dominating role, as was the trend in the larger music scene of the time, although studio strings were present on some of the tracks conducted by Rainer Pietsch, the overall soundscape had a more electronic feel in keeping with the futuristic nature of the album. Time topped the U.K. charts for two weeks and was the last ELO studio album to date to be certified platinum in the United Kingdom. Singles from the album included "Hold on Tight", "Twilight", "The Way Life's Meant to Be
", "Here Is the News
" and "Ticket to the Moon
". The band embarked on their last world tour to date to promote the LP. It was the first ELO tour without cellists, although Mik Kaminski returned to play his famous "blue violin." The live line-up was completed with Louis Clark and newcomer Dave Morgan (guitar, synthesisers, vocals) playing the string parts on synthesisers, and "Fred the Robot" voicing the "Prologue" and "Epilogue".
in 1983. (Many of the out-takes were later released on Afterglow
or as b-sides of singles.) The album was a hit in the UK reaching the top 5. The album's release was followed by news that there would be no tour to promote the LP, that drummer Bevan was now playing drums for Black Sabbath
and that bassist Kelly Groucutt had left the band. Rumours of the group disbanding were publicly denied by Bevan. Although Secret Messages debuted at number four in the United Kingdom, it fell off the charts, failing to catch fire with a lack of hit singles in the U.K. (though "Rock and Roll Is King" was a sizeable hit in UK, the US and Australia) and a lukewarm media response.
By 1983 Bevan was expressing a desire to join Black Sabbath
permanently and Lynne and Tandy were recording tracks for the Electric Dreams
soundtrack under Jeff Lynne's name. However, Lynne was contractually obligated to make one more ELO album.
Lynne, Bevan and Tandy returned to the studio in 1985 as a three-piece (with Christian Schneider playing saxophone on some tracks) to record ELO's final album of the 20th century, Balance of Power, released early in 1986. Though the single "Calling America
" placed in the Top 30 in the United Kingdom (#28) and Top 20 in the States
, subsequent singles failed to chart. The album was absent of actual strings, replaced once again by synthesisers, played by Tandy. The album also shed the customary ELO logo that had appeared on every album since 1976.
Lynne, with the 7-piece line-up that supported Time (with the exception of bassist Groucutt being replaced by Martin Smith), played a small number of live ELO performances in 1986, including shows in England and Germany along with US appearances on American Bandstand
, Solid Gold
, then at Disneyland that summer. The Birmingham Heart Beat Charity Concert 1986 was a charity concert organised by Bevan in ELO's hometown of Birmingham on 15 March 1986. A hint of Lynne's future was seen when George Harrison
appeared onstage during the encore at Heartbeat, joining in the all-star jam of "Johnny B. Goode
". ELO's last performance of the century occurred on 13 July 1986 in Stuttgart
, Germany.
ELO effectively disbanded after that final show in Stuttgart in 1986, but there was no announcement made of it for the next two years, during which George Harrison's Lynne-produced album Cloud Nine
and the pair's follow-up (with Roy Orbison
, Bob Dylan
and Tom Petty
) Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
were released. Bevan approached Lynne to make another ELO album in 1988, but Lynne was not interested and went on to announce that ELO was no more.
, initially with no other former ELO members except Clark. ELO Part II released their debut album Electric Light Orchestra Part Two
in 1990. Mik Kaminski, Kelly Groucutt and Hugh McDowell joined the band for the first tour in 1991. McDowell left after that tour. Bevan, Groucutt, Kaminski and Clark recorded a second album, Moment of Truth
, in 1994 and toured extensively until 1999. Bevan retired from the line-up in 1999 and sold his share of the ELO name to Jeff Lynne in 2000. The remaining members continue to tour and record, renamed as The Orchestra
.
, containing three CDs of remastered tracks and a handful of out-takes and unfinished works, most notably a new version of ELO's only UK number one hit "Xanadu".
In 2001 Zoom, ELO's first album since 1986, was released. Though billed and marketed as an ELO album, the only returning member other than Jeff Lynne was Richard Tandy, who performed on one track. Zoom took on a more organic sound, with less emphasis on strings and electronic effects. Guest musicians included former Beatles
Ringo Starr
and George Harrison
. Upon completion of the album Lynne reformed the band with completely new members including his then-girlfriend Rosie Vela
(who had released her own album "Zazu", in 1986) and announced that ELO would tour again. Former ELO member Richard Tandy
rejoined the band a short time afterwards for two television live performances: VH1 Storytellers
and a PBS
concert shot at CBS Television City
, later titled Zoom Tour Live
, that was released on DVD. The planned tour was cancelled. and was not rescheduled.
Harvest Records and Epic/Legacy released ELO's back catalogue from 2001–07. Included amongst the remastered album tracks were unreleased songs and out-takes, including 2 new singles "Surrender
" which registered on the lower end of the UK Singles Chart
at #81, some 30 years after it was written in 1976. Another unreleased recording, "Latitude 88 North," was released as the third bonus track on the 2007 remastered version of their 1977 album Out of the Blue. The song was written in 1977, but existed only as a demo recording of the chorus. Jeff Lynne returned to the song and finished it in preparation for the remastered version of "Out of the Blue".
and Balance of Power which were released in February 2007. A lost demo from 1977 was finished and released in the United Kingdom as a download single on 6 February 2007, titled "Latitude 88 North".
All the original ELO albums were released in mini replica sleeves in Japan. Among the many features was the original Jet Records
label on the disc and original inner sleeves and lyrics.
As a companion to the new remasters, another ELO compilation hit the German, then UK shops in October 2007, and was also released in the US 5 February 2008. It's the follow-up to All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
and is called Ticket to the Moon: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra Volume 2
.
An eco-friendly repackage of The Essential Electric Light Orchestra
called Playlist: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra was released on 2 September 2008.
On 9 August 2010, Eagle Rock Entertainment
released Live – The Early Years
in the UK as a DVD compilation that includes Fusion – Live In London (1976) along with never before released live performances at Brunel University (1973) and on a German TV show Rockpalast (1974). The US had a slightly edited release on 24 August 2010.
The Essential Electric Light Orchestra
artwork has been re-jigged, there will now be two different covers. The US and Australian releases will share the same design whilst the rest of the world will feature the other for a new 2 CD October 2011 release. This will be the third ELO compilation that presents a chronological run-through of ELO's singles/songs following US compilations Olé ELO
in 1976 and Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra
in 1995.
The group's name is an intended pun
based not only on electric light (as in a light bulb as seen on early album covers) but also using "electric" rock instruments combined with a "light orchestra" (orchestras with only a few cellos and violins that were popular in Britain during the 1960s).
The official band logo, designed in 1976 by artist Kosh
, was first seen on their 1976 album A New World Record
and is based on a 1946 Wurlitzer
jukebox
model 4008 speaker. The 4008 speaker was itself based upon the upper cabinet of the Wurlitzer
model 1015 jukebox
. The band's previous logo was similar to the General Electric
logo.
The new logo appeared on most of the band's album covers in various forms. For instance, on 1977's Out of the Blue
, the logo was turned into a huge flying saucer space station, an enduring image now synonymous with the band. On the follow-up album Discovery
, the logo became a small glowing artefact on top of a treasure chest. Bev Bevan usually displayed the logo on his drum set.
British rock
British rock describes a wide variety of forms of music made in the United Kingdom. Since around 1964, with the "British Invasion" of the United States spearheaded by The Beatles, British rock music has had a considerable impact on the development of American music and rock music across the...
group from Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood
Roy Wood
Roy Adrian Wood is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He was particularly successful in the 1960s and 1970s as member and co-founder of the bands The Move, Electric Light Orchestra, and Wizzard. As a songwriter, he contributed a number of hits to the repertoire of these bands.-Career:Wood...
and Jeff Lynne
Jeff Lynne
Jeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones. After Wood's departure following the band's debut record, Lynne wrote and arranged all of the group's original compositions and produced every album.
Despite early singles success in the United Kingdom, the band were initially more successful in the United States, billed as "The English guys with the big fiddles". They soon gained a cult following despite lukewarm reviews back in their native United Kingdom. By the mid-1970s, they had become one of the biggest-selling bands in music. From 1972 to 1986, ELO accumulated 27 Top-40 hit singles in both the UK and the US. The group also scored 20 Top 20 UK hit singles, as well as 19 Top-20 hit singles in the US (as charted by Billboard Magazine
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
). The band also holds the record for having the most Billboard Hot 100, Top 40 hits of any band in US chart history without ever having a number one single.
ELO collected 19 CRIA
Canadian Recording Industry Association
Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada...
, 21 RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
and 38 BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
awards,, and sold over 50 million records worldwide during the group's active period of recording and touring.
Birth of the band
In the late 1960s, Roy Wood—guitarist, vocalist and songwriter of The MoveThe Move
The Move, from Birmingham, England, were one of the leading British rock bands of the 1960s. They scored nine Top 20 UK singles in five years, but were among the most popular British bands not to find any success in the United States....
—had an idea to form a new band that would use violins, cellos, string basses, horns and woodwinds to give their music a classical sound, taking rock music in the direction "that The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
had left off." Jeff Lynne
Jeff Lynne
Jeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
, frontman of fellow Birmingham group The Idle Race, was excited by the concept. In January 1970, when Carl Wayne
Carl Wayne
Carl Wayne was a British singer and actor. He is best remembered as the lead vocalist of Birmingham rock group The Move during the 1960s.-Early days:...
left The Move, Lynne accepted Wood's second invitation to join the band on the condition that they focus their energy on the new project.
On 12 July 1970, when Wood added multiple cellos to a Lynne-penned song intended to be a Move B-side, the new concept became a reality and "10538 Overture
10538 Overture
-Song history:The song, written by Jeff Lynne, was intended to be a B-side on one of The Move's singles. Rick Price of The Move played bass on the track originally but was never credited, apparently with all the overdubs and layers that were added to the track the bass line 'got lost' in the mix...
" became the first Electric Light Orchestra song. To help finance the fledgling band, two more Move albums were released during the lengthy ELO recordings. The resulting debut album The Electric Light Orchestra
The Electric Light Orchestra (album)
The Electric Light Orchestra is the debut studio album by English rock band Electric Light Orchestra, released in December 1971. In the US, the album was released in early 1972 as No Answer, after a misunderstood telephone message made by a United Artists Records executive asking about the album name...
was released in 1971. (It was released in the United States in 1972 as No Answer, the name being chosen because a record company secretary had tried to ring the UK company and get the name of the album – since they were unable to contact them they left a note saying "No Answer".) "10538 Overture" became a UK top-ten hit. Lynne, Wood, and Bev Bevan
Bev Bevan
Bev Bevan is an English rock musician, who was the drummer and one of the original members of The Move and Electric Light Orchestra...
were the founding members of Electric Light Orchestra. They were joined by Bill Hunt (horns, keyboards) and Steve Woolam (violin) on the debut album.
ELO's debut concert took place on 15 April 1972 at The Fox & Hounds Pub in Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, U.K. with a line-up of Wood, Lynne, Bevan, Bill Hunt (horns, keyboards), Wilfred Gibson
Wilfred Gibson
Wilfred Gibson is an English violinist who played in the band Electric Light Orchestra, and has performed as a session musician. He replaced original ELO violinist Steve Woolam in 1972 and performed in their first live concert...
(violin), Hugh McDowell
Hugh McDowell
Hugh McDowell is an English cellist best known for his membership in Electric Light Orchestra and related acts.-Career:...
(cello), Mike Edwards
Mike Edwards (musician)
Mike Edwards , known as Swami Deva Pramada or simply Pramada, was an English cellist and music teacher. His wide-ranging career was most widely notable for his membership of the Electric Light Orchestra.-Early life:...
, Andy Craig (cello) and Richard Tandy
Richard Tandy
Richard Tandy , is best known as the keyboard player in the rock band, Electric Light Orchestra...
on bass.
However, tensions soon surfaced between Wood and Lynne due to problems with management. During the recordings for the band's second LP, Wood left the band taking cellist McDowell and horn player Hunt with him to form Wizzard
Wizzard
Wizzard was a Birmingham-based band formed by Roy Wood, former member of The Move and co-founder of Electric Light Orchestra. The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits states, "Wizzard was Roy Wood just as much as Wings were Paul McCartney."-Biography:...
. Despite predictions from the music press that the band would fold without Wood, who had been the driving force behind the creation of ELO, Lynne stepped up to lead the band, with Bev Bevan
Bev Bevan
Bev Bevan is an English rock musician, who was the drummer and one of the original members of The Move and Electric Light Orchestra...
remaining on drums, joined by Gibson, Richard Tandy (now on the Moog synthesiser), Mike de Albuquerque on bass and vocals and Mike Edwards
Mike Edwards (musician)
Mike Edwards , known as Swami Deva Pramada or simply Pramada, was an English cellist and music teacher. His wide-ranging career was most widely notable for his membership of the Electric Light Orchestra.-Early life:...
and Colin Walker on cellos.
The new line-up performed at the 1972 Reading Festival. Barcus Berry pick-ups
Pickup (music technology)
A pickup device is a transducer that captures mechanical vibrations, usually from suitably equipped stringed instruments such as the electric guitar, electric bass guitar, Chapman Stick, or electric violin, and converts them to an electrical signal that is amplified, recorded, or broadcast.-...
, now sported by the band's string trio, allowed them to have proper amplification on stage for their instruments, which had previously been all but drowned out by all the sound of the other electrified instruments. The band released their second album, ELO 2 in 1973, which produced their first US chart single, a hugely elaborate version of the Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
classic "Roll Over Beethoven
Roll Over Beethoven
"Roll Over Beethoven" is a 1956 hit single by Chuck Berry originally released on Chess Records, with "Drifting Heart" as the B-side. The lyrics of the song mention rock and roll and the desire for rhythm and blues to replace classical music...
". ELO also made their first appearance on American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
.
During the recording of the third album, Gibson was let go after a dispute over money and Walker left since touring was keeping him away from his family too much. Mik Kaminski
Mik Kaminski
Mik Kaminski is best known for playing violin in the Electric Light Orchestra between 1973 and 1979.-Biography:...
joined as violinist, while remaining cellist Edwards finished the cello parts before McDowell returned to ELO from Wizzard. The resulting album, On the Third Day
On the Third Day
On the Third Day is the third studio LP by Electric Light Orchestra and the first to be recorded without any input from Roy Wood.-Overview:...
, was released in late 1973, with the American version featuring the popular single "Showdown
Showdown (Electric Light Orchestra song)
"Showdown" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and recorded by the Electric Light Orchestra.It was the band's last contemporary recording to be released on the Harvest label....
."
Global success
For the band's fourth album, Eldorado, A SymphonyEldorado (Electric Light Orchestra album)
Eldorado - A Symphony By The Electric Light Orchestra is the fourth studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra, released in 1974.-Concept:...
, a concept album about a daydreamer, Lynne was finally able to stop overdubbing strings, and hire a proper orchestra and choir. Louis Clark
Louis Clark
Louis Clark is a British musical arranger and keyboard player.He trained at Leeds College of Music. He was the conductor of the orchestra and choir hired to back Electric Light Orchestra's sound, introduced on their album Eldorado in 1974...
joined the band as string arranger. The first single of the album, "Can't Get It Out of My Head
Can't Get It Out of My Head
Can't Get It Out of My Head is a song by Electric Light Orchestra.First released on the band's fourth album, Eldorado, in July 1974, the song is the second track on the album and follows "Eldorado Overture." The song was released in November of that same year as a single.The song became the band's...
", became their first US Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
Top 10 hit, and Eldorado, A Symphony became ELO's first gold album
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
.
After the release of Eldorado, bassist and vocalist Kelly Groucutt
Kelly Groucutt
Kelly Groucutt , born Michael William Groucutt, was an English musician who was best known for being the bass player for the band Electric Light Orchestra , between 1974 and 1983. He was born in Coseley, West Midlands.-Early career:Groucutt began his musical career at 15 as Rikki Storm of Rikki...
and cellist Melvyn Gale
Melvyn Gale
Melvyn Gale is an English cellist.-Career:Gale obtained his classical music orientated education at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Before joining the Electric Light Orchestra, he had already played with the London Palladium Orchestra, with whom he had his...
joined, replacing de Albuquerque (who, like Walker before him, quit since the ELO tours were keeping him away from his family too long) and Edwards respectively. The line-up stabilised as the band took to a decidedly more accessible sound. ELO had become successful in the United States at this point and the group was a star attraction on the stadium and arena circuit, as well as regularly appearing on The Midnight Special
The Midnight Special (TV series)
The Midnight Special is an American musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981...
(1973, 1975, 1976 & 1977) more than any other band in that show's history with four appearances.
Face the Music was released in 1975, producing the hit singles "Evil Woman
Evil Woman (Electric Light Orchestra song)
"Evil Woman" is a song written by lead vocalist Jeff Lynne and recorded by Electric Light Orchestra.First released on the band's fifth album, 1975's Face the Music. Released as a single in late-1975, the song became the band's first worldwide hit...
" and "Strange Magic
Strange Magic
For the greatest hits collection of the same name, see Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra."Strange Magic" is a song written and performed by the Electric Light Orchestra. It can be found on the 1975 Face the Music LP....
". The opening instrumental "Fire On High
Fire On High
"Fire on High" is the opening instrumental track from the 1975 Electric Light Orchestra album Face the Music.The song was the UK B-side to the band's worldwide hit single Livin' Thing, issued in blue vinyl...
", with its mix of strings and blazing acoustic guitars, saw heavy exposure as background music on CBS Sports Spectacular
CBS Sports Spectacular
CBS Sports Spectacular is a sports anthology program produced by CBS Sports. The series began on January 3, 1960 as The CBS Sports Spectacular, and has been known under many different names, including CBS Sports Saturday, CBS Sports Sunday, Eye on Sports and The CBS Sports Show.The program...
montages, though most viewers had no idea of the song's origins. The group toured extensively from 3 February till 13 April 1976 promoting the album in the US, playing 68 shows in 76 days (see Face the Music). It was on the American tour that ELO first debuted their use of coloured lasers.
Despite the recognition and success they enjoyed in the states they were still largely ignored in the United Kingdom until their sixth album, The platinum selling A New World Record
A New World Record
A New World Record is the sixth studio album by Electric Light Orchestra, released in 1976.-Overview:The second album to be recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich, the LP proved to be the band's long awaited breakthrough in the UK: after seeing their previous three studio recordings fail to chart...
, hit the top ten there in 1976. It contained the hit singles "Livin' Thing
Livin' Thing
"Livin' Thing" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and performed by Electric Light Orchestra. It appears on ELO's 1976 platinum-selling album, A New World Record...
", "Telephone Line
Telephone Line (Electric Light Orchestra song)
"Telephone Line" is a song by Electric Light Orchestra.The song is track two on their 1976 album A New World Record and was the final single to be released from the band's LP until September 2006 when Surrender was released from the expanded reissue....
", "Rockaria!
Rockaria!
"Rockaria!" is a song by Electric Light Orchestra. It was the third track on the band's successful 1976 album A New World Record and was the second single from the album. Featuring the operatic voice of Mary Thomas during the introduction, she flubbed the first take by starting the vocals too early...
" and "Do Ya", a rerecording of a Move song. The band toured in support in the US only from October 1976 to April 1977 with a break in December, then an American Music Award
American Music Awards of 1977
-Pop/Rock Category:*Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist**Elton John*Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist**Olivia Newton-John*Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo, or Group**Chicago*Favorite Pop/Rock Album**Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 - The Eagles...
show appearance on 31 January 1977, plus a one-off gig in San Diego in August 1977
A New World Record was followed by a multi-platinum selling album, the double-LP
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
Out of the Blue
Out of the Blue (Electric Light Orchestra album)
The 30th Anniversary Edition was released on February, 20th 2007 with three bonus tracks.-Personnel:ELO*Jeff Lynne – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion*Bev Bevan – drums, percussion, backing vocals, fire extinguisher on "Mr...
, in 1977. Out of the Blue featured the singles "Turn to Stone
Turn to Stone
"Turn to Stone" is a 1977 song by Electric Light Orchestra.The song is the opening track to the double album Out of the Blue. It was the first song released as a single from the LP. The single reached #18 in the U.K. charts and stayed there for 12 weeks. Out of four singles from the album, "Turn to...
", "Sweet Talkin' Woman
Sweet Talkin' Woman
"Sweet Talkin' Woman" is a 1978 single by The Electric Light Orchestra from the LP Out of the Blue. Its original title was "Dead End Street", but it was changed during recording, perhaps to avoid confusion with a 1966 hit of the same title by the Kinks...
", "Mr. Blue Sky
Mr. Blue Sky
"Mr. Blue Sky" is a song by English rock group Electric Light Orchestra, featured on the band's seventh studio album Out of the Blue . Written and produced by frontman Jeff Lynne, the song forms the fourth and final track of the "Concerto for a Rainy Day" suite, on side three of the original double...
", and "Wild West Hero
Wild West Hero
"Wild West Hero" is a song by Electric Light Orchestra, and the closing track and third single from the album Out of the Blue. The song was written by lead singer Jeff Lynne. Melvyn Gale, normally the band's cellist, provided the Western-style piano for this track.It entered the UK Top 40 at No. 31...
", each becoming a hit in the United Kingdom. The band then set out on a nine-month, 92-date world tour, with an enormous set and a hugely expensive space ship stage with fog machine
Fog machine
A fog machine or smoke machine is a device which emits a dense vapour that appears similar to fog or smoke. This artificial fog is most commonly used in professional entertainment applications, but smaller, more affordable fog machines are becoming common for personal use. Fog machines can also be...
s and a laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
display. In the United States the concerts were billed as The Big Night and were their largest to date, with 80,000 people seeing them at Cleveland Stadium
Cleveland Stadium
Cleveland Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in Cleveland, Ohio. In its final years, the stadium seated 74,438, for baseball and 81,000, for football. It was one of the early multi-purpose stadiums, built to accommodate both baseball and football...
. The Big Night went on to become the highest-grossing live concert tour in music history up to that point (1978). The band also played at the Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
for eight straight sold-out nights during the tour as well, another record at that time. The first of these shows was recorded and televised, and later released as a CD
Live at Wembley '78
Live at Wembley '78 is a live recording by Electric Light Orchestra. Edited in length as was the VHS/DVD version.-Sound issues:The sound on this album has led to accusations of the band Lip synching, as did the earlier video from which this CD was taken...
and DVD.
In 1979, the multi-platinum album
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
Discovery
Discovery (Electric Light Orchestra album)
Discovery is a 1979 album by Electric Light Orchestra.-History:Discovery was the band's first No. 1 album in the UK, entering the chart at that position and staying there for five weeks...
(or "Disco? Very!", as fans refer to it), was released. Although the biggest hit on the album (and ELO's biggest hit overall) was the rock song "Don't Bring Me Down", the album was noted for its heavy disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
influence. Discovery also produced the hits "Shine a Little Love
Shine A Little Love
"Shine a Little Love" is a song by the Electric Light Orchestra. It was released as a single in the US in May 1979 and in the UK in June of the same year.-Summary:...
", "Last Train to London
Last Train to London
"Last Train to London" is the fifth track from the Electric Light Orchestra album Discovery.The song was released in 1980 in the UK as a double A-side single with "Confusion". It peaked at #8 in the UK Singles Chart. However, in the US the two songs charted separately, with "Confusion" charting in...
", "Confusion
Confusion (Electric Light Orchestra song)
"Confusion" is the second song from the 1979 Electric Light Orchestra album Discovery. It features acoustic guitar and vocoder.It was released in the UK as a double A-side single with "Last Train to London". It peaked at #8 in the UK Singles Chart...
" and "The Diary of Horace Wimp". The band recorded videos for all the songs on the album.
The Electric Light Orchestra finished 1979 as the biggest selling act in the United Kingdom. ELO had reached the peak of their stardom, selling millions of albums and singles and even inspiring a parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
/tribute
Tribute
A tribute is wealth, often in kind, that one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often the case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. Various ancient states, which could be called suzerains, exacted tribute from areas they had conquered or threatened to conquer...
song on the Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
album Born Again.
In 1980 Jeff Lynne was asked to write for the soundtrack of the musical film Xanadu
Xanadu (film)
Xanadu is a 1980 romantic musical fantasy film written by Marc Reid Rubel and directed by Robert Greenwald. The title is a reference to the poem "Kubla Khan, or, A Vision in a Dream: A Fragment" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which is quoted in the film. Xanadu is the name of the Chinese province...
, with the other half written by John Farrar
John Farrar
John Farrar is a music producer, songwriter, music arranger, singer and guitarist who is best known for his work with Olivia Newton-John with whom he wrote and produced many hit songs....
and performed by the film's star Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
. The movie performed poorly at the box office, but the soundtrack did exceptionally well, eventually going double platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
. The album spawned hit singles from both Newton-John ("Magic," No. 1 in the United States, and "Suddenly" with Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
) and ELO ("I'm Alive
I'm Alive (Electric Light Orchestra song)
"I'm Alive" is a song by the Electric Light Orchestra, released as a single in May 1980. It is featured in a sequence near the beginning of the feature film Xanadu. The song also appears on the soundtrack album Xanadu....
", which went gold, "All Over the World
All Over the World (song)
"All Over the World" is a song by the Electric Light Orchestra . It is featured in the 1980 feature film Xanadu in a sequence with the film's stars Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, and Michael Beck...
" and "Don't Walk Away
Don't Walk Away (Electric Light Orchestra song)
"Don't Walk Away" is a song by the Electric Light Orchestra . It is featured in the 1980 feature film Xanadu in an animated sequence by Don Bluth.The song also appears on the soundtrack album Xanadu...
"). The title track, performed by both Newton-John and ELO, is ELO's only song to top the singles chart in the United Kingdom. Xanadu was turned into a surprising hit Broadway Musical that opened on 10 July 2007 at the Helen Hayes Theatre to uniformly good reviews and received 4 Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
nominations. The Electric Light Orchestra Story, Bev Bevan's memoirs from his early days and throughout his career with The Move and ELO, were also published in 1980.
In 1981 ELO's sound changed again with the science fiction concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
Time
Time (Electric Light Orchestra album)
Time is a concept album by Electric Light Orchestra released in 1981 through Jet Records. The album tells the story, through its songs and lyrics, about a man from the 1980's finding himself in the year 2095 and trying to come to terms with being unable to return and adjusting to his new...
, a throwback to earlier, more progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
albums like Eldorado. With the string section laid off, synthesisers took a dominating role, as was the trend in the larger music scene of the time, although studio strings were present on some of the tracks conducted by Rainer Pietsch, the overall soundscape had a more electronic feel in keeping with the futuristic nature of the album. Time topped the U.K. charts for two weeks and was the last ELO studio album to date to be certified platinum in the United Kingdom. Singles from the album included "Hold on Tight", "Twilight", "The Way Life's Meant to Be
The Way Life's Meant to Be
"The Way Life's Meant to Be" is a song written by Jeff Lynne and performed by Electric Light Orchestra.The song is track five on the 1981 album Time and was the last track to be released as a single from the album in the UK. It starts with gentle violins, and continues with flamenco-like guitar...
", "Here Is the News
Here Is the News
"Here Is the News" is a 1982 song written and performed by Electric Light Orchestra.It is track ten on the album Time and was released as a double A-side along with "Ticket to the Moon" in January 1982, reaching #24 in the UK charts. The song makes heavy use of synthesizers but also includes...
" and "Ticket to the Moon
Ticket to the Moon
"Ticket To The Moon" is a popular song written by Jeff Lynne and performed by Electric Light Orchestra.It was track four on the album Time and was released as a Double A along with "Here Is The News" in January 1982 , reaching #24 in the UK charts. The song is somewhat reminiscent of their earlier...
". The band embarked on their last world tour to date to promote the LP. It was the first ELO tour without cellists, although Mik Kaminski returned to play his famous "blue violin." The live line-up was completed with Louis Clark and newcomer Dave Morgan (guitar, synthesisers, vocals) playing the string parts on synthesisers, and "Fred the Robot" voicing the "Prologue" and "Epilogue".
Final Days
Jeff Lynne wanted to follow Time with a double album. CBS blocked his plan claiming a double vinyl album would be too expensive. The new album was edited down from double album to a single disc and released as Secret MessagesSecret Messages
Secret Messages is an album by Electric Light Orchestra, released in 1983 through Jet Records. It would be the last ELO album to feature bassist Kelly Groucutt, conductor Louis Clark and real stringed instruments...
in 1983. (Many of the out-takes were later released on Afterglow
Afterglow (Electric Light Orchestra box set)
Afterglow was a box set compilation by Electric Light Orchestra released in 1990 with liner notes by music critic and editor Ira Robbins of Trouser Press fame...
or as b-sides of singles.) The album was a hit in the UK reaching the top 5. The album's release was followed by news that there would be no tour to promote the LP, that drummer Bevan was now playing drums for Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
and that bassist Kelly Groucutt had left the band. Rumours of the group disbanding were publicly denied by Bevan. Although Secret Messages debuted at number four in the United Kingdom, it fell off the charts, failing to catch fire with a lack of hit singles in the U.K. (though "Rock and Roll Is King" was a sizeable hit in UK, the US and Australia) and a lukewarm media response.
By 1983 Bevan was expressing a desire to join Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
permanently and Lynne and Tandy were recording tracks for the Electric Dreams
Electric Dreams (soundtrack)
Electric Dreams is a soundtrack album from the film Electric Dreams, released in 1984Several popular rock and New Wave musicians of the 1980s contributed original music to the film's soundtrack. It was available throughout Europe but remained unreleased on compact disc in the U.S. until September...
soundtrack under Jeff Lynne's name. However, Lynne was contractually obligated to make one more ELO album.
Lynne, Bevan and Tandy returned to the studio in 1985 as a three-piece (with Christian Schneider playing saxophone on some tracks) to record ELO's final album of the 20th century, Balance of Power, released early in 1986. Though the single "Calling America
Calling America
"Calling America" is a song by the rock music group Electric Light Orchestra released as a single from their 1986 album Balance of Power. It became the band's first hit in three years. The song is, like most of the songs on Balance of Power, musically upbeat and bright but lyrically darker,...
" placed in the Top 30 in the United Kingdom (#28) and Top 20 in the States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, subsequent singles failed to chart. The album was absent of actual strings, replaced once again by synthesisers, played by Tandy. The album also shed the customary ELO logo that had appeared on every album since 1976.
Lynne, with the 7-piece line-up that supported Time (with the exception of bassist Groucutt being replaced by Martin Smith), played a small number of live ELO performances in 1986, including shows in England and Germany along with US appearances on American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
, Solid Gold
Solid Gold (TV series)
Solid Gold is an American syndicated music television series that debuted on September 13, 1980. Like many other shows of its genre, such as American Bandstand, Solid Gold featured musical performances and various other elements such as music videos...
, then at Disneyland that summer. The Birmingham Heart Beat Charity Concert 1986 was a charity concert organised by Bevan in ELO's hometown of Birmingham on 15 March 1986. A hint of Lynne's future was seen when George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
appeared onstage during the encore at Heartbeat, joining in the all-star jam of "Johnny B. Goode
Johnny B. Goode
"Johnny B. Goode" is a 1958 rock and roll song written and originally performed by American musician Chuck Berry. The song was a major hit among both black and white audiences peaking at #2 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song is one of Chuck Berry's...
". ELO's last performance of the century occurred on 13 July 1986 in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Germany.
ELO effectively disbanded after that final show in Stuttgart in 1986, but there was no announcement made of it for the next two years, during which George Harrison's Lynne-produced album Cloud Nine
Cloud Nine (George Harrison album)
-Personnel:The following personnel was credited in the liner notes.*George Harrison – vocals, guitars, keyboards, sitar*Jeff Lynne – guitars, bass, vocals, keyboards*Eric Clapton – guitar*Elton John – piano*Gary Wright – piano*Ringo Starr – drums...
and the pair's follow-up (with Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
) Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 is the debut album by the supergroup Traveling Wilburys and was recorded and released in 1988 to commercial success and critical acclaim.- Background :...
were released. Bevan approached Lynne to make another ELO album in 1988, but Lynne was not interested and went on to announce that ELO was no more.
ELO Part II
Bevan (under an agreement with Lynne who co-owned the ELO name with him) continued on in 1985 as ELO Part IIELO Part II
ELO Part II were an offshoot band formed by Electric Light Orchestra drummer Bev Bevan. The band also included former ELO bassist Kelly Groucutt, conductor Louis Clark and violinist Mik Kaminski for most of its career...
, initially with no other former ELO members except Clark. ELO Part II released their debut album Electric Light Orchestra Part Two
Electric Light Orchestra Part Two (album)
Electric Light Orchestra Part Two is an album released by ELO Part II in 1990. "Kiss Me Red" was originally from Cheap Trick's album, The Doctor.-Track listing:Side One# "Hello" – 1:17...
in 1990. Mik Kaminski, Kelly Groucutt and Hugh McDowell joined the band for the first tour in 1991. McDowell left after that tour. Bevan, Groucutt, Kaminski and Clark recorded a second album, Moment of Truth
Moment of Truth (ELO Part II album)
Moment of Truth is an album by ELO Part II. It was released on October 1, 1994.The cover illustration by Graham Reynolds depicts an incandescent light bulb shattering...
, in 1994 and toured extensively until 1999. Bevan retired from the line-up in 1999 and sold his share of the ELO name to Jeff Lynne in 2000. The remaining members continue to tour and record, renamed as The Orchestra
The Orchestra
The Orchestra is a rock band formed by former members of the Electric Light Orchestra and ELO Part II. It is the continuation of ELO Part II following Bev Bevan's departure and selling of the rights to Jeff Lynne.-History:...
.
Reformation in 2000
Jeff Lynne's comeback with ELO began in 2000 with the release of a retrospective box set, FlashbackFlashback (Electric Light Orchestra box set)
Flashback is a box set compilation by Electric Light Orchestra. See also: Afterglow.-History:In 2000, Jeff Lynne found a new impetus to work on the music of his old band and returned to the recording studio to work on an ELO project for the first time in some 15 years just prior to the comeback...
, containing three CDs of remastered tracks and a handful of out-takes and unfinished works, most notably a new version of ELO's only UK number one hit "Xanadu".
In 2001 Zoom, ELO's first album since 1986, was released. Though billed and marketed as an ELO album, the only returning member other than Jeff Lynne was Richard Tandy, who performed on one track. Zoom took on a more organic sound, with less emphasis on strings and electronic effects. Guest musicians included former Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
and George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
. Upon completion of the album Lynne reformed the band with completely new members including his then-girlfriend Rosie Vela
Rosie Vela
Roseanne "Rosie" Vela is an American model and singer-songwriter.-Career:Vela's family later moved to Arkansas, where she attended the University of Arkansas. While studying art and music, Vela also began modeling. She married the Arkansas born musician, Jimmy Roberts, but he died of cancer...
(who had released her own album "Zazu", in 1986) and announced that ELO would tour again. Former ELO member Richard Tandy
Richard Tandy
Richard Tandy , is best known as the keyboard player in the rock band, Electric Light Orchestra...
rejoined the band a short time afterwards for two television live performances: VH1 Storytellers
VH1 Storytellers
Storytellers is a television music series produced by the VH1 network.In each episode artists perform in front of a live audience, and tell stories about their music, writing experiences and memories, somewhat similar to MTV Unplugged...
and a PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
concert shot at CBS Television City
CBS Television City
CBS Television City is a television studio complex located in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles at 7800 Beverly Boulevard, at the corner of North Fairfax Avenue...
, later titled Zoom Tour Live
Zoom Tour Live
Zoom Tour Live is a concert by Electric Light Orchestra.After the release of the 2001 album Zoom, Jeff Lynne announced a North American tour, their first live concerts in fifteen years...
, that was released on DVD. The planned tour was cancelled. and was not rescheduled.
Harvest Records and Epic/Legacy released ELO's back catalogue from 2001–07. Included amongst the remastered album tracks were unreleased songs and out-takes, including 2 new singles "Surrender
Surrender (Electric Light Orchestra song)
"Surrender" is a song by the Electric Light Orchestra, and was released as a bonus track on the 2006 remastered version of their 1976 studio album A New World Record....
" which registered on the lower end of the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
at #81, some 30 years after it was written in 1976. Another unreleased recording, "Latitude 88 North," was released as the third bonus track on the 2007 remastered version of their 1977 album Out of the Blue. The song was written in 1977, but existed only as a demo recording of the chorus. Jeff Lynne returned to the song and finished it in preparation for the remastered version of "Out of the Blue".
Current releases
Although there has been no news on any forthcoming new ELO projects, ELO's core studio albums have now all been remastered and expanded with bonus tracks, leaving only The Night the Light Went On in Long Beach, ELO's Greatest Hits, Xanadu, Zoom and ELO's Greatest Hits Live AKA Zoom Tour Live to be done. Latest in the Epic/Legacy series were Out of the BlueOut of the Blue (Electric Light Orchestra album)
The 30th Anniversary Edition was released on February, 20th 2007 with three bonus tracks.-Personnel:ELO*Jeff Lynne – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion*Bev Bevan – drums, percussion, backing vocals, fire extinguisher on "Mr...
and Balance of Power which were released in February 2007. A lost demo from 1977 was finished and released in the United Kingdom as a download single on 6 February 2007, titled "Latitude 88 North".
All the original ELO albums were released in mini replica sleeves in Japan. Among the many features was the original Jet Records
Jet Records
Jet Records was a small British record label set up by Don Arden with artists like Electric Light Orchestra , Roy Wood, Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, Riot and Magnum. The first release on the "Jet Records" label was "No Honestly", a UK top 10 for its singer and writer Lynsey De Paul in November 1974...
label on the disc and original inner sleeves and lyrics.
As a companion to the new remasters, another ELO compilation hit the German, then UK shops in October 2007, and was also released in the US 5 February 2008. It's the follow-up to All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
-Personnel:*Jeff Lynne - Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards*Bev Bevan - Drums, percussion*Richard Tandy - Keyboards, Guitar*Kelly Groucutt - Bass, Vocals*Mik Kaminski - Violin*Hugh McDowell - Cello*Melvyn Gale - Cello...
and is called Ticket to the Moon: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra Volume 2
Ticket to the Moon: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra Volume 2
Ticket to the Moon: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra, Volume 2 is a 2007 compilation album by Electric Light Orchestra, and is a companion to 2005's All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra...
.
An eco-friendly repackage of The Essential Electric Light Orchestra
The Essential Electric Light Orchestra
The Essential Electric Light Orchestra was originally a single CD, US-only compilation album by the Electric Light Orchestra, released in 2003...
called Playlist: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra was released on 2 September 2008.
On 9 August 2010, Eagle Rock Entertainment
Eagle Rock Entertainment
Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV and Digital Media in the world. Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, high-definition and 3D programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones,...
released Live – The Early Years
Live – The Early Years
Live – The Early Years is a UK DVD compilation of 3 Electric Light Orchestra concerts from the 1970s that includes Fusion – Live In London along with 2 other never before released live performances at Brunel University and on a German TV show Rockpalast , Eagle Rock Entertainment released it on...
in the UK as a DVD compilation that includes Fusion – Live In London (1976) along with never before released live performances at Brunel University (1973) and on a German TV show Rockpalast (1974). The US had a slightly edited release on 24 August 2010.
The Essential Electric Light Orchestra
The Essential Electric Light Orchestra
The Essential Electric Light Orchestra was originally a single CD, US-only compilation album by the Electric Light Orchestra, released in 2003...
artwork has been re-jigged, there will now be two different covers. The US and Australian releases will share the same design whilst the rest of the world will feature the other for a new 2 CD October 2011 release. This will be the third ELO compilation that presents a chronological run-through of ELO's singles/songs following US compilations Olé ELO
Olé ELO
Olé ELO is the second compilation album by the Electric Light Orchestra covering their early years. Released in 1976, this LP was originally compiled by United Artists Records as a promotional album for American radio stations, but when copies of the LP started selling to fans "underground" United...
in 1976 and Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra
Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra
Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra is a compilation album by Electric Light Orchestra, released in 1995 only in the US.The compilation favours album versions rather than single versions; tracks such as "Rock 'n' Roll Is King", "Shine a Little Love" and "Boy Blue" are longer...
in 1995.
Band name and logo
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
based not only on electric light (as in a light bulb as seen on early album covers) but also using "electric" rock instruments combined with a "light orchestra" (orchestras with only a few cellos and violins that were popular in Britain during the 1960s).
The official band logo, designed in 1976 by artist Kosh
Kosh (art director)
Kosh is an English art director, album cover designer, graphic artist, and documentary producer/director. He was born in London, England and rose to prominence in the mid-1960s while designing for the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera House...
, was first seen on their 1976 album A New World Record
A New World Record
A New World Record is the sixth studio album by Electric Light Orchestra, released in 1976.-Overview:The second album to be recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich, the LP proved to be the band's long awaited breakthrough in the UK: after seeing their previous three studio recordings fail to chart...
and is based on a 1946 Wurlitzer
Wurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
jukebox
Jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media...
model 4008 speaker. The 4008 speaker was itself based upon the upper cabinet of the Wurlitzer
Wurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
model 1015 jukebox
Jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media...
. The band's previous logo was similar to the General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
logo.
The new logo appeared on most of the band's album covers in various forms. For instance, on 1977's Out of the Blue
Out of the Blue (Electric Light Orchestra album)
The 30th Anniversary Edition was released on February, 20th 2007 with three bonus tracks.-Personnel:ELO*Jeff Lynne – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion*Bev Bevan – drums, percussion, backing vocals, fire extinguisher on "Mr...
, the logo was turned into a huge flying saucer space station, an enduring image now synonymous with the band. On the follow-up album Discovery
Discovery (Electric Light Orchestra album)
Discovery is a 1979 album by Electric Light Orchestra.-History:Discovery was the band's first No. 1 album in the UK, entering the chart at that position and staying there for five weeks...
, the logo became a small glowing artefact on top of a treasure chest. Bev Bevan usually displayed the logo on his drum set.
Personnel
- Jeff LynneJeff LynneJeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
– lead vocals, guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, drums, cello, producer, songwriter, composer, arranger (1970–1983, 1985–1986, 2000–01) - Bev BevanBev BevanBev Bevan is an English rock musician, who was the drummer and one of the original members of The Move and Electric Light Orchestra...
– drums, percussion, vocals (1970–1983, 1985–1986) - Roy WoodRoy WoodRoy Adrian Wood is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He was particularly successful in the 1960s and 1970s as member and co-founder of the bands The Move, Electric Light Orchestra, and Wizzard. As a songwriter, he contributed a number of hits to the repertoire of these bands.-Career:Wood...
– lead vocals, guitar, bass guitar, cello, clarinet, bassoon, oboe, drums, recorder, producer, songwriter, arranger (1970–1972) - Bill Hunt – keyboards, French horn, hunting horn (1970–1972)
- Steve Woolam – violin (1970–1971)
- Rick PriceRick Price (bassist)Rick Price is an English bassist, who has played with various Birmingham based rock bands, most notably Sight and Sound, The Move , Electric Light Orchestra and Wizzard...
– bass (1970) - Richard TandyRichard TandyRichard Tandy , is best known as the keyboard player in the rock band, Electric Light Orchestra...
– keyboards, synthesisers, bass guitar, guitar, backing vocals, arranger (1972–1983, 1985–1986, 2000–01) - Mike EdwardsMike Edwards (musician)Mike Edwards , known as Swami Deva Pramada or simply Pramada, was an English cellist and music teacher. His wide-ranging career was most widely notable for his membership of the Electric Light Orchestra.-Early life:...
– cello (1972–1974) - Wilfred GibsonWilfred GibsonWilfred Gibson is an English violinist who played in the band Electric Light Orchestra, and has performed as a session musician. He replaced original ELO violinist Steve Woolam in 1972 and performed in their first live concert...
– violin (1972–1973) - Hugh McDowellHugh McDowellHugh McDowell is an English cellist best known for his membership in Electric Light Orchestra and related acts.-Career:...
– cello (1972, 1973–1979) - Andy Craig – cello (1972)
- Colin Walker – cello (1972–1973)
- Mike de Albuquerque – bass guitar, backing vocals (1972–1974)
- Mik KaminskiMik KaminskiMik Kaminski is best known for playing violin in the Electric Light Orchestra between 1973 and 1979.-Biography:...
– violin (1973–1979, 1981–1983, 1986) - Louis ClarkLouis ClarkLouis Clark is a British musical arranger and keyboard player.He trained at Leeds College of Music. He was the conductor of the orchestra and choir hired to back Electric Light Orchestra's sound, introduced on their album Eldorado in 1974...
– orchestra arranger, conductor (1974–1981, 1983–1986) - Kelly GroucuttKelly GroucuttKelly Groucutt , born Michael William Groucutt, was an English musician who was best known for being the bass player for the band Electric Light Orchestra , between 1974 and 1983. He was born in Coseley, West Midlands.-Early career:Groucutt began his musical career at 15 as Rikki Storm of Rikki...
– bass guitar, backing vocals (1974–1983) - Melvyn GaleMelvyn GaleMelvyn Gale is an English cellist.-Career:Gale obtained his classical music orientated education at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Before joining the Electric Light Orchestra, he had already played with the London Palladium Orchestra, with whom he had his...
– cello (1975–1979) - Dave MorganDave Morgan (musician)David 'Dave' Morgan is an English songwriter and musician.-Career:He was a member of well-regarded Birmingham 60's group The Uglys with Steve Gibbons between 1967 and 1969, where Morgan was the bassist and vocalist...
– backing vocals, synthesisers, acoustic guitar (1981–1986) - Martin Smith – bass guitar, backing vocals (1986)
- Marc Mann – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals (2000–2001)
- Matt Bissonette – bass guitar, backing vocals (2001)
- Gregg Bissonette – drums, backing vocals (2001)
- Peggy Baldwin – cello (2001)
- Sarah O'Brien – cello (2001)
- Rosie VelaRosie VelaRoseanne "Rosie" Vela is an American model and singer-songwriter.-Career:Vela's family later moved to Arkansas, where she attended the University of Arkansas. While studying art and music, Vela also began modeling. She married the Arkansas born musician, Jimmy Roberts, but he died of cancer...
– backing vocals (2001)
Discography
- The Electric Light OrchestraThe Electric Light Orchestra (album)The Electric Light Orchestra is the debut studio album by English rock band Electric Light Orchestra, released in December 1971. In the US, the album was released in early 1972 as No Answer, after a misunderstood telephone message made by a United Artists Records executive asking about the album name...
(1971) - ELO 2 (1973)
- On the Third DayOn the Third DayOn the Third Day is the third studio LP by Electric Light Orchestra and the first to be recorded without any input from Roy Wood.-Overview:...
(1973) - Eldorado, A SymphonyEldorado (Electric Light Orchestra album)Eldorado - A Symphony By The Electric Light Orchestra is the fourth studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra, released in 1974.-Concept:...
(1974) - Face the Music (1975)
- A New World RecordA New World RecordA New World Record is the sixth studio album by Electric Light Orchestra, released in 1976.-Overview:The second album to be recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich, the LP proved to be the band's long awaited breakthrough in the UK: after seeing their previous three studio recordings fail to chart...
(1976) - Out of the BlueOut of the Blue (Electric Light Orchestra album)The 30th Anniversary Edition was released on February, 20th 2007 with three bonus tracks.-Personnel:ELO*Jeff Lynne – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion*Bev Bevan – drums, percussion, backing vocals, fire extinguisher on "Mr...
(1977) - DiscoveryDiscovery (Electric Light Orchestra album)Discovery is a 1979 album by Electric Light Orchestra.-History:Discovery was the band's first No. 1 album in the UK, entering the chart at that position and staying there for five weeks...
(1979) - XanaduXanadu (Soundtrack)Xanadu is the soundtrack of the 1980 musical film of the same name, featuring the Australian singer Olivia Newton-John and the Britsh group Electric Light Orchestra....
(1980) - TimeTime (Electric Light Orchestra album)Time is a concept album by Electric Light Orchestra released in 1981 through Jet Records. The album tells the story, through its songs and lyrics, about a man from the 1980's finding himself in the year 2095 and trying to come to terms with being unable to return and adjusting to his new...
(1981) - Secret MessagesSecret MessagesSecret Messages is an album by Electric Light Orchestra, released in 1983 through Jet Records. It would be the last ELO album to feature bassist Kelly Groucutt, conductor Louis Clark and real stringed instruments...
(1983) - Balance of Power (1986)
- Zoom (2001)
External links
- Electric Light Orchestra Home – The official Electric Light Orchestra site.
- Face the Music – Official ELO and related artists information site.
- Electric Light Orchestra Legacy Recordings site – ELO's page at their record label.
- Jeff Lynne Song Database